Stamp-canceling machine.



un model.)

Imm 1 1.

STAMP GA'NGELI'NG MACHINE.

(Application lgd July 24., 1800.)

y I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1'-'llllumIllilm@li wmf! I /N'vfwon y 5201196 2.5h/2000a.

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No..702,494.A Patented June I7, |902.

G. R. SHEBWUD.

STAMP cANcEuNe MAcHma (Application led kJuly 24, 1900.) (No Model.) 5Sheets-Shadi 2'.

W/TNESSES- /N VE N TOI? 2N. 702,494. Patented lune |7,|9o'2. G. R.SHERWUUD.

STAMP CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application tiled July 24, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A TTOHNEYS fx I Patented lune I7, |902..

G. H. SHERWO0D. STAMP CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application med July 24, 1900.)

(no Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

U'fcy. '74.

@if H W/ TNE SSE S A 7TOHNEYS No.- 702,494. Patented lune I7, |902.

G. AB.. SHERWD. 4 0 STAMP CNCELING MACHINE:

(Application med my' 24, woo.) v f v (NOIIDBI.) i' 5 Sheets-SIIG 5.

ma Nonms PETERS 0. Puofmuue.. wAsmuafon. D. c.

UNITED STATESj 'PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ROBINSON SHERWOOD, OF KEARNEY, NEBRASKA.

'STAMP-CANCELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,494, dated :une17, 1902. ,i

i Application iiled .Tuly 24,1900. Serial No. 24,637. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ROBINSON SHER- WOOD, residing at Kearney, inthe county of Buffalo and State of Nebraska, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Stamp-Canceling Machines, of which the followingis a specification. y

My invention is a stamp-canceling machine embodying a carrier and aholder thereon arranged to secure the letter by the action of thecompressible holder from the opposite sides thereof. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal section of the'holder applied to the carrier plate or band.Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detail crosssectional views on respectivelylines 8 8, 9 9, l0 l0, and 11 11 of Fig. 7. Fig; 12 is a perspectiveView, and Fig. 13 a sectional View, of the pulley having a drum opposingthe canceling-Wheel and a feeding-pulley for aiding in feeding theletters being canceled. Figs. 14C and 15 are respectively perspectiveand sectionalviewsof theseparating-pulley. Fig.

1G illustrates in diagrammatic form the gear-p ing of the machine. Fig.17 illustratesa somewhat-modified form of the devices for turning thetime-disk of the canceling-Wheel. Fig'. 18 illustrates in perspective asection of the sprocket-chain forming a part of the feed mechanism. Fig.19 is a perspective view of the canceling-Wheel. Fig. 20 is a top planview thereof,the cap-diskbelin g removed and parts'being shown insection. Fig. 2l is a perspective View o f the cap-disk and the knobsoperating above the same. Fig. 22 illustrates yin perspective the pinwhich connects the main and cap disks, the wheel applied to thetime-disk, the pinion meshing with said Wheel or gear, and thepivot-stud for the time-Wheel. Fig. 23 is a detail perspective View ofthe timedisk. Fig. 24 is a detail perspective View of the main disk.Fig. 25 is a det-ail perspective Figs. 3 and 4 are detail vertical' viewof a portion of the' edge of the time-disk. Fig. 26 is a detailperspective View of a portion of the edgeof the main disk, and Fig. 27is a detail plan `view showing the connections between the adjacentholders. l

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable frame having a table A,upon which the letters properly assorted are held by a slide B inposition for operationpbythe feeding mechanism, presently described. Y

The feeding mechanism includes an endless carrier C, which is'providedWith aholder or holders D, preferably arranged t0 succeed each other, asshown. The carrier is driven by the wheelE and passes around theguidepulley o r tightener F and the idler G, as shown in Fig. 1. Thecarrier C, as shown,

consists of the band or plate H, preferably of sheet metal, and theupper-and lower sprocket-chains I, as shown in Figs. 2, 8, 4, andY 8.The holders D are compressible, being preferablyformed of india-rubber,and haveachamber or chambers Jforair. These chambers J have open mouthsJ', which are preferably surrounded by projecting beads or nipples J2,as shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 11. The holder D is also provided with arecess J 3, in which operateithe spring devices which aid the resilienceof the holder i-n opening or expanding the same to release the letter.By preference I provide'a plurality of airchambers J land arrange themin longitudinal and laterally-disposed series, as shown in Fig. 5, so anumber of the air-chambers will operate upon the same letter, and thusnot only insure the proper holding of the letter, but also prevent anytwisting or displacement of the letter, as it will bey held throughoutpractically its entire area by the several airchambers, as will be morefully described hereinafter. The bandor plate H is provided witha seriesofopenings, and the holders D are arranged on'the innersideof the plateH, with the nipples J2 projecting through the openingsH' in the' band Hand protruding beyond the outer side of said band, forming yieldingcircular beads ornipf ples to properly operate upon the letters to befed to the canceling devices. The recess J 3 also opens next to the bandH, and the spring devices are preferably in `the form of spring Wirescoiled at K and having arms K and IOO K2 projecting from the coils K andoperating within a metal band or plate L, fitted in the recess J3 andhaving one wing bearing against the base of said recess and its otherwing bearing against the band or plate H, as best shown in Fig. '7.

At its ends the holder D is provided with strap-like portions j, whichare secured to the band or plate l-I by means of rivets j', which passthrough washersj2, embedded in the straps The band or plate H thusoperates to connect the holders D at their outer faces, and the innerface, of the adjacent ends of the succeeding holders D are conneetedtogether by means olf connecting-bars L', which are secured totheholders by the rivets j', as shown in Fig. 7. At its upper and loweredges the band or plate H is provided with the sprocket-chains I, thelinks I' of which preferably support the projecting clasps I2, which arebifurcated at 12, so they can clasp the band and be secured thereto bysuitable rivets, as will be understood from Figs. 2, 8, and 18. Thesprocket-chains I mesh with the sprocket-wheels E at the upper and loweredges of the wheel E,while the holders D press against a drum-likeportion E2, which is located between the sprocket-wheels E' and operatesto compress the holders D and so empty their chambers .I of air. It willbe noticed that the holders are compressed at a point directly oppositethe slidel-E, so that as theholder passes from the wheel E toward thecanceling devices, presently described, the letter of the pile whichlies next to the open mouths of the chambers .I will be pressed byatmospheric pressure firmly against such mouths, so the holder willoperate to feed such letter toward the canceling devices. If a second orthird letter should adhere to that which is positively held by theholder D, it will be forced back by the pulley M, which turns in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 and is constructed, as shownin Fig. 2, with a tension device M', so it can beset to operate withmore or less force upon the letters it is desired to return or separatefrom that which is being positively carried by the holder D. After theholder D passes the canceling devices N it will be compressed by theidlerroll G to empty its chambers J, and so release the letter the stampof which has been canceled, and the letter will pass by a guide-board Pand be discharged by a wheel Q, having a wing Q' to throw theletter outof the machine.

The canceling devices are arranged within the carrier, as shown in Fig.1, and operate alongside the lower edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, andare also located between the wheel E, which compresses the holder toenable atmospheric pressure to operate to press the letter tightlyagainst such holder, and the device G, which compresses the holder tocause it to release the letter. Opposite the canceling devices I providea pulley R, having a drum R' opposing the canceling-wheel and a feedingpulley or surface R2 opposite the carrier of the feeding device, so suchpulley It will form a bed for the canceling devices and a means foraiding the passage of the letter through the machine. The pulley Fguides the belt or carrier between the parts E and G and is preferablyadjustable by iittin g its supporting-shaft in a slot F', as shown inFig. 1, so it can be set to take up any slack in the carrier.

The canceling-wheel N is shown in detail in Figs. 19 to 26, inclusive,in plan view in Fig. 1, in edge view in Fig. 2, and in crosssection inFig. 3, and is composed of the base or main disk N'` the time-disk N2,and the` cap-disk N2. The main disk N' is carried by the shaft S and isprovided at its periphery with recesses 1 and 2, in which are securedblocks 3 and L1, the latter having the canceling-band 5 and the formerbeing provided with type to indicate the post-office and date.Eccentrically upon the base-disk N is mounted the disk N2, which has onits periphery type arranged successively to indicate the hourandhalf-hour,as shown at (5 in Fig. 25. In supporting the time-disk N2,Iemploy a studshaft T, which is threaded eccentrically in the disk N',has a circular collar or i'lange '1" on which the time-disk N2 turns,`and is provided at its upper end with a threaded stem 'l"-,whichprojects above the cap-disk N3 and receives the nut T2, which maybetightened to clamp the base-disk, the time-disk, and the cap-disk f1rmly together, as will be understood Afrom Fig.

3y arranging the time-disk N2 eccentrically to the base-disk it will benoticed, as best shown in Fig. 20, that only a portion of the rim of thetim e-disk will coincide with the periphery of the main disk N', asshown at 7 in Fig. 20, the remainder of the dislcN2 lying within theedge of the disk N', as shown in Fig. 20. I also provide means forturning the time-disk N2 to bring any portion thereof to expose at itsedge its printing-type (i to eooperate with the printing devices 3 and11 on the disk N. To this end I provide in the under side of thecap-disk N3 a central circular main recess U and a smaller circularrecess U', lateral t0 and communicating with the recess U, as shown inFig. 2l.. In the recess U, I tit a gear-wheel V, (shown in Fig. 22,)which is made fast to the time-disk N2 by means of a pin V', as shown inFig. The gear V is notched in its edge at V2 and is provided on its facewith projecting pins V2. In the recess U', I fit the wheel XV, havingits shaft W' projecting through and above the cap-section N"3 andreceiving the knob W2. The wheel W is notched at NVS to mesh with thenotched rim V2 of the wheel V and has lateral pins XV, which mesh withthe pins V2 of the wheel V. Thus by turning the knob W2 the wheel V, andthrough it the time-disk, may be turned to bring any desired one of itsprinting-sections G into coincidence with the printing-sections of themain disk. Then this is accomplished, it will be understood from Fig. 19that only the printing-section 6 ICO IIO

"toene-1 of the time-disk which'is brought into coinwhich is passingthrough the machine. Upon the face of the time-disk I provideindicatingv characters at 8 corresponding to the type 6 at diametricallyopposite points, and these indicating characters 8 are exposed through aslot 9 in the cap-disk N3, so the operator can determine at a glancewhich of the printing-sections 6 is adjusted to printing position. A pinX fits in openings X'Aand -X2 in the base and cap disks and isshouldered at X3 between said disks and operates to lock the base andcap disks together,so they will turn in unison. The cap-disk N8 ispreferably provided at 10 with canceling-bands coinciding with the bands5 of the base-section N,as is best shown in Fig. 19. An inking-roller Yis provided to to apply ink to the canceling-wheel N.

In practice I prefer to provide four of the vholders D on the endlessband or plate andto so time the movement of the carrier and of thecanceling-wheel that the printing characters of the canceling-wheel willbe brought into play opposite the pulley R at the instant tail herein.

In Fig. 17 I show a modified construction of the wheels V and W. In thismodified construction a wheel 10 has its periphery notched at ll, andthe knob 12-is provided on its under side with pins 13, 'which operatein the notches 11 to turn the Wheel 10, as willbe understood from thesaid Fig. 17.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a stamp-canceling machine, a feeding mechanism comprising acompressible holder provided with a plurality of airchambers each havingan open mouth, the several mouths opening within the arca of the letterto be fed, a carrier for said holder, means by which the holder may becompressed to discharge the air from its chambers whereby it will whenexpanded, operate to hold by atmospheric pressure a letterI fed againstits open mouths, and means for compressing the holder to cause it torelease the letter so held substantially as set forth.

2. A stamp-canceling machine provided .with a letter-feeding mechanismcomprising a `carrier composed of front and rear bandwheels, an endlessfeeding-band thereon, and a suction-holder secured thereto, and meansfor operating said holder whereby it is caused to secure and release theletter, and guides whereby the letter-holder is directed in a straightline between the point where it receives the letter and the cancelingdevice, substantially as set forth. A

bination of the front .and rear band-wheels, the endless feeding-band,anda compressible holder carried by the band and having a plurality ofindependent chambers with their mouths .opening` independently wherebythe holder will operate to secure the letter at different points,substantially as set forth.

4. In a stamp-canceling machine, a com-v pressible holder providedwithan air-chamber having an open mouth andfhaving adjacent to said mouth aiat face to t against theletter and a projecting bead or'nipplesurrounding said mouth, substantially as set forth.

5. A stamp-canceling machinecomprising a carrier and a compressibleholder provided `with a plurality ofindependent chambers having openmouths arrangedin longitudinal and lateral series, substantially as setforth;

6. In a stamp-canceling machine',the combination of a compressibleholder provided vwith an air-chamber having an open mouth against whichthe letter may be held by atmospheric pressure, and with aspring-holding chamber `with a spring operating in said chamber byYwhich to expand the vholder to open the airchamber, and a double-wingedplate receiving said spring, substantially as setforth.

7. In a stamp-canceling machine, a compressible holder of resilientmaterial provided with an air-chamber having an open mouth and with aspring-holding chamber and a'series of independent springs operating insuch chamber by which to expand said holder, substantially as set forth.A

8. In a stamp-canceling machine, the combination of a compressibleholder provided with an air-chamberhaving Van open mouth and with arecess, and a spring-in saidrecess to open or expand the holder,substantially as set forth. v i

9. In a stamp-canceling machine, a letterfeeding mechanism comprising acarryingband,anda compressible holder carried thereby and provided withan air-chamber projecting beyond the rear face of the band and having anopen mouth at the front or outer side of the band, substantially asset-forth.

10. In a stamp-canceling machine, a letterfeeding mechanism comprising acarrying band or plate havinga plurality of openings, and an expansibleholderhaving a-plurality ofair-chambers whose mouths areopen and aresurrounded by projecting nipples, said holder being secured on onesideof the band or plate withits nipples projecting through the openingsthereof and protruding beyond the opposite side of the band orplate,-substantially as set forth..

IOO

IIO

11.V In a stampcanceling machine, a letter- Y pressible holderprovidedwith thenipple fitted in said opening and secured at one face tothe band or belt and-having in said face an 3.. In a stamp-cancelingmachine, the comair-chamber whosemouth coincides withthe opening in saidband and also having in said face a recess for the expanding-spring, andthe eXpanding-sprin g fitted in said recess and operating between theband or plate and the holder to open or expand the holder, substantiallyas set forth.

12. In a stamp-canceling machine, a letterfeeding mechanism comprisingthe endless carrier, the'compressible letter-holder carried thereby andprovided with an air-chamber projecting normally from the rear face ofthe baud and having an open mouth, and the driving and supportingpulleys around which said carrier is passed and arranged to operate uponthe air-chambers substantially as set forth.

13. In a stamp-canceling machine, the letter-feeding mechanismcomprising the drivepulley having the drum portion and thesprocket-wheels above and below the same, the carrier band or belt, thecompressible holder thereon havin g an air-chamber and the guide-pulleyscoperating with the drive-pulley in supporting the carrier,substantially as set forth.

14. In a stamp-canceling machine the combination of the pulleyssupporting the carrier, the carrier having a band or plate passed aroundsaid pulleys, and the compressible holders secured to the inner side ofsaid band or plate, substantially as set forth.

15. In a stamp-canceling machine, the combination of the letter-feedingmechanism consisting of an endless carrier having compressibleletter-holding devices and guides for directing said carrier and forcompressing the holding devices, and the canceling devices operatingalongside one edge of the said by 'which to compress the holder wherebyto provide for securing the letter by atmospheric pressure in advanceot' the canceling devices and for releasing it in rear of such devices,substantially as set forth.

17. In astamp-canceling machine, the combination of a base-disk havingon its periphery one portion of the cancellation device and one or morelines of characters designating the postal station, a crown-diskconcentric with and connected with the base-disk, aneccentrically-located stud, an intermediate disk rotatable on said studand having on its periphery a series of characters representing theusual subdivisions of a day and so positioned that at all times one ofthe said series shall extend outwardly and register with the line orlines of characters on the base, a lockingplate having in its peripheryaseries of cavities and on its upper side a series of pins, the saidcavities and pins being of the same number as the subdivisions of theintermediate disk, a pin for securing the locking-plate to theintermediate disk, and a stud rotatable in the crown-disk and havingcross-arms adapted to mesh with and transmit motion to the pins of thelocking-plate and also having a portion adapted to engage with theperipheral concavities of the said locking-plate and hold the sameexcept at such times as the said arms and pins are in operative contactsubstantially as shown and described.

18. In a stamp-canceling machine, the canceling and dating Wheelcomprising the basedisk, the cap-disk iitted on and held to thebase-disk, the time-disk between and eccentric to the base and cap disksand provided with a wheel having peripheral notches and pins or spursprojecting from its face, and the pinion having a Wheel notched to meshwith the said peripheral notches and having lateral pins to mesh withthe face-pins of the said wheel substantially as set forth.

19. In a stamp-canceling machine, the canceling-wheel comprising thebase-disk, the cap-disk concentric with and secured to the base-disk,provided in its inner face with a central, main circular recess and witha circular recess lateral to and communicating with the main recess, thetime-disk between and eccentric to the base and cap disks, the wheelheld to said time-disk and fitted in the main recess of the cap-,diskand the shaft journaled in the cap-disk and. provided with a Wheelfitted in the lateral recess in the capdisk and meshed with the Wheel inthe main recess, substantially as set forth.

20. In a stamp-canceling machine the canceling-wheel comprising thebase-disk, the cap-disk, the time-disk between the base and cap disks,the pin extended between the base and cap disks and the screw devicesfor clamping the base and cap disks together and upon the time-disk,substantially as set forth.

21. In a stamp-canceling machine, thecombination of a can celing-Wheel,aletter-i'eeding device having an endless carrier movable in anuninterrupted straight line past the face of the canceling-Wheeladjacent to the periphery thereof and provided with a plurality ofletter-holding devices, a letter-guide normally impinging the face ofthe carrier, opposite and above the cancellation-wheel, and apositively-driven resilient drum inflexibly mounted opposite the saidcancellationwheel.

22. A stamp-canceling machine provided with a letter-feeding mechanismcomprising an endless carrier-band and a holder thereon arranged tosecure the letter by the action of atmospheric pressure, means forexpanding and contracting said holder whereby it is caused to secure andrelease the letter, and guides whereby the letter-holder is directed ina straight line between the point Where it receives the letter and thecanceling device.

23. Astamp-cancelingmachine comprising a. letter-feeding mechanismcomposed of an endless carrier-1oztnd,aJ suction-holder secured meanscarried by the holder by which it may 1o be expanded and meansindependent of the i thereto, supporting and operating devices forholder for compressing the samesubstantiaily the carrier, and means forpositively expanding and contracting the suction-holder substantially asset forth.

24. In a stamp-canceling machine, the combination of a compressiblesuction-holder, an

endless carrier to which said holder is secured,

as set forth. y y

GEORGE ROBINSON SHERWOODv Witnesses:

\ E. C. CALKINs,

MAUD MARSTON.

